Forsythia plant named `Pygmy-Red`

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Forsythia named `Pygmy-Red` characterized by its small shrub size, its narrow foliage, and the distinct red color of its currently matured shoots.

This invention relates to a new cultivar of Forsythia named "Pygmy-Red", which is characterized especially by its low growth habit, its narrow leaves, and the red color of current shoots at maturity.

The new variety was derived as a seedling from a vegetative line of mutants, which had been produced in turn by subjecting rooted cuttings of parent "Lynwood Gold" (a sport of F. intermedia "Spectabilis").

In 1968, three hundred cuttings of "Lynwood Gold" that had been potted and held in cold storage (38° F.) for six weeks and then returned to the greenhouse for two days were irradiated with 1200 rad fast neutrons. One of the plants of this group that broke dormancy formed a shoot with variegated foliage. This plant was cut back repeatedly to induce branching and eventually formed shoots that exhibited different characteristics. Each shoot was propagated by stem cuttings over 10 vegetative generations of selection and propagation. From this plant population two vegetatively selected types and three seedlings were selected. Further propagation and testing of these selections over several more years were shown to be the stable and new forsythia varieties that are the subject of this and four other co-pending plant patent applications; viz:

    ______________________________________                                         Ser. No.  Name           Type                                                  ______________________________________                                         272,063   "Lemon-Screen" vegetative selection                                  273,489   "Tinkle Bells" vegetative selection                                  271,919   "Minikin"      seedling                                              271,665   "Fairy Land"   seedling                                              271,666   "Pygmy-Red"    seedling                                              ______________________________________                                    

Each differs greatly from the parent "Lynwood Gold" and also from one another.

"Pygmy-Red" was selected at the seedling stage because of its distinct foliage form and growth characteristics. The seedling showed good growth characteristics in the field, a distinct red coloration in mature current year shoots, and maroon fall color on the upper side of the leaves. Cuttings from this plant have been rooted in soil and asexually propagated, and its progeny have displayed homogeneous and stable characteristics.

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of the color as used in common speech are aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based on the R.H.S. Colour Chart, published by The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the new variety in color as grown in Knox County within the State of Tennessee.

FIG. 1 illustrates "Pygmy-Red" in spring bloom. The measuring stick is set on the ground and is 4 ft. long.

FIG. 2 shows lowered cut stems.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the flowers of FIG. 2 which also illustrates the red color of the currently matured shoots.

FIG. 4 illustrates the "Pygmy-Red" plant in May foliage.

FIG. 5 is a closer view of the foliage shown in FIG. 4.

The following characteristics distinguish "Pygmy-Red" from its parent and other Forsythia cultivars:

THE PLANT

"Pygmy-Red" has a low growth habit. The plant form is loose, but graceful, some branches bending to the ground and rooting where they touch the soil. The plant is a hardy (to Zone 6b or lower), shows good vigor but develops few seed pods. It is a flowering shrub, blooming readily when used for forcing into flower in a greenhouse and suitable for containers. The ultimate size of "Pygmy-Red" is about 31/2 to 41/2 ft. in height and 5 ft. to 6 ft. wide. The size of "Pygmy-Red" makes it particularly useful for road median planting, small visual and physical landscape screens and barriers, or for mass planting in parks. The plant requires minimal pruning and has disease and insect-resistant foliage.

Its parent, "Lynwood Gold", by contrast is tall and slender--a straight upright variety with erect stems and which attains a height of 6 ft. to 71/2 ft. at maturity.

FLOWER

"Pygmy-Red" flowers at an intermediate stage. The yellow flowers (Yellow 6A in color) are 11/4 in. to 11/2 in. diameter and generally have four, but sometimes five, petals. The corolla lobes are narrow. The pistils extend 2/25 in. to 3/25 in. above the pollen sacs of the stamen. The plant produces two flowers per node on the flowering wood, which has internodes 1/2 in. to 11/2 in. in length.

SHOOTS

The currently matured Pygmy-Red shoots have a distinct red color (Purple Red 59 A); high anthocyanin pigmentation of the mature current shoots is also expressed in the maroon fall color of the foliage when the plant is grown with full exposure to direct sunlight. The shoots are lamellate between nodes, flexible, bending to touch the ground, which leads to self-propagation by layering.

The stems of the "Lynwood Gold" parent are green when young and brown when mature; they are a bit stiff; the pith at the nodes is lamellate, and on one year shoots, the stems between nodes are hollow.

FOLIAGE

The "Pygmy-Red" leaves are dark green in color when both young and mature. The leaves are simple, serrate and lanceolate, being acuminate at the tip and attenuate at the base, 0.3 in. to 0.4 in. wide and 2 in. to 21/2 in. long on flowering wood. The leaves on vegetative shoots are somewhat larger, up to 1 in. wide and 23/4 in. long. Venation is pinnate. Few, if any, lobed leaves occur on vegetative shoots, as often occurs with other Forsythia cultivars. Even on fast growing vegetative shoots, the internodes are less than 11/2 in. long.

The leaves of the "Lynwood Gold" parent, on the other hand, are ovate lanceolate in shape and about 3" to 41/2" long and about 1" to 11/2" wide. Both young and old leaves are deep green in color.

To facilitate the comparison of the characteristics and features of "Pygmy-Red", the subject of this application, and its parent, "Lynwood Gold" and also with the four other new mutant offspring varieties of "Lynwood Gold" referred to above, there are attached hereto as Tables 1-5 comparative tabulations of the characteristics and properties of parent and its five offspring mutants that were developed from a single irradiated plant of "Lynwood Gold." Table 1 compares "Pygmy-Red" and its parent "Lynwood Gold". Table 2 compares "Pygmy-Red" and "Fairy-Land". Table 3 compares "Pygmy-Red" and "Tinkle Bells". Table 4 compares "Pygmy-Red" and "Minikin". Table 5 compares "Pygmy-Red" and "Lemon Screen".

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                                  S/N: 271,666                                                                   PYGMY RED    LYNWOOD GOLD                                             ______________________________________                                         Plant:                                                                         Habit      Low, loose graceful                                                                           Tall, slender-Upright                                           arching to ground                                                                             straight & erect stems                               Size, height                                                                              31/2'-41/2'    6'-71/2'                                             Size, width                                                                               5'-6'                                                               Vigor      Good vigor                                                          Hardiness  Hardy Zone 6b                                                                  (or lower)                                                          Productivity                                                                              Readily roots where                                                                           Fertile                                                         branches touch                                                                 ground few seed pods                                                Stems:                                                                         Color (young)                                                                             High anthocyanin                                                                              Green                                                Color (mature)                                                                            Purple Red (59 A)                                                                             Brown                                                Rigidity   Flexible lamellate                                                                            A bit stiff;                                                    between nodes  pith nodes lamellate;                                                          hollow between nodes                                                           on one year shoots                                   Leaves:                                                                        Type       Simple                                                              Color:                                                                         (young)    Dark Green     Deep Green                                           (mature)   Dark Green     Deep Green                                           (fall)     Anthocyanin (maroon)                                                           expressed in full sun                                               Shape      Lanceolate (few lobed                                                                         ovate lanceolate                                                leaves on vegetative                                                           shoots)                                                             tip        Accuminate                                                          base       Attenuate                                                           margins    Serrate                                                             Size:                                                                          length     2"-21/2" on flowering                                                                         3-41/2"                                                         wood; to 23/4" on                                                              vegatative wood                                                     width      0.3"-0.4" on flowering                                                                        1-11/2"                                                         wood; to 1" on                                                                 vegetative wood                                                     Venation   Pinnate                                                             Flower:                                                                        Date of    Intermediate   Late                                                 Flowering                                                                      Size: width                                                                               11/4"-11/2"    1"-11/2" (medium)                                    Color:     Yellow (7A)    Brillant Yellow                                                                (lighter than its                                                              parent Spectabilis)                                  Corolla:                                                                       length                                                                         lobes      Narrow         Reflexed                                             Petals: number                                                                            4 - sometimes 5                                                                               Large, broad, open                                                             Elliptic                                             Pistils:   Extend 2/25"-3/25"                                                                            Extend well above                                               above pollen sacs of                                                                          pollen sacs (anthers)                                           stamens        of stamens                                           Number per node:                                                                          2                                                                   Insertion angle                                                                on upright stems:                                                              Internodes:                                                                               1"-11/2" (11/2" even on                                                                       Flowers almost                                                  fast growing shoots)                                                                          evenly spaced                                                                  on stems                                             Stress Resistance:                                                                        disease and insect                                                  Utility Aspects:                                                               ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                                  S/N: 271,666 S/N 271,665                                                       PYGMY RED    FAIRY LAND                                               ______________________________________                                         Plant:                                                                         Habit      Low, loose graceful                                                                           Small overall & fine                                            arching to ground                                                                             textured:                                                                      Closely spaced                                                                 flowers & leaves                                                               Dense (young) foliage                                Size, height                                                                              31/2'-41/2'    3'-4'                                                Size, width                                                                               5'-6'          5'-6'                                                Vigor      Good vigor     Good vigor for size                                  Hardiness  Hardy Zone 6b  Zone 6b (or lower)                                              (or lower)                                                          Productivity                                                                              Readily roots where                                                                           Few seed pods                                                   branches touch                                                                 ground few seed pods                                                Stems:                                                                         Color (young)                                                                             High anthocyanin                                                                              Light green                                          Color (mature)                                                                            Purple Red (59 A)                                                                             Brownish green                                       Rigidity   Flexible lamellate                                                                            Very flexible lamellate                                         between nodes  between nodes                                        Leaves:                                                                        Type       Simple         Simple                                               Color:                                                                         (young)    Dark Green     Medium green (fairly                                                           light)                                               (mature)   Dark Green     Medium green (fairly                                                           light)                                               (fall)     Anthocyanin (maroon)                                                                          Mostly faded yellow                                             expressed in full sun                                               Shape      Lanceolate (few lobed                                                                         Lanceolate                                                      leaves on vegetative                                                           shoots)                                                             tip        Accuminate     Accuminate                                           base       Attenuate      Attenuate                                            margins    Serrate        On flowering wood;                                                             entire                                                                         On vegetative wood:                                                            serrate top 1/3                                      Size:                                                                          length     2"-21/2" on flowering                                                                         On flowering wood:                                              wood; to 23/4" on                                                                             11/2"-21/2"                                                     vegatative wood                                                                               On vegatative shoots:                                                          about 3"                                             width      0.3"-0.4" on flowering                                                                        On flowering wood:                                              wood; to 1" on 0.2"-0.4"                                                       vegetative wood                                                                               On vegatative shoots                                                           0.5-0.6"                                             Venation   Pinnate        Pinnate                                              Flower:                                                                        Date of    Intermediate   Intermediate                                         Flowering                                                                      Size: width                                                                               11/4"-11/2"    3/4"-11/4"                                           Color:     Yellow (7A)    Yellow (6 A)                                         Corolla:                                                                       length                                                                         lobes      Narrow         Reflexed, small                                      Petals: number                                                                            4 - sometimes 5                                                                               Generally 4-many                                                               have 5, 6, 7 and 8 on                                                          single corolla                                       Pistils:   Extend 2/25"-3/25"                                                                            Extend 3/25" to 4/25"                                           above pollen sacs of                                                                          above pollen sacs                                               stamens        (anthers) of the                                                               stamen                                               Number per node:                                                                          2              2-4                                                  Insertion angle                                                                on upright stems:                                                              Internodes:                                                                               1"-11/2" (11/2" even on                                                                       1/4" to about 1"                                                fast growing shoots)                                                Stress Resistance:                                                                        disease and insect                                                  Utility Aspects:          Very well suited for                                                           container culture                                    ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                                  S/N: 271,666 S/N 273,489                                                       PYGMY RED    TINKLE BELLS                                             ______________________________________                                         Plant:                                                                         Habit      Low, loose graceful                                                                           Semi-dwarf; Upright                                             arching to ground                                                   Size, height                                                                              31/2'-41/2'    4'-41/2'                                             Size, width                                                                               5'-6'                                                               Vigor      Good vigor     Medium vigor                                         Hardiness  Hardy Zone 6b  Hardy Zone 6b                                                   (or lower)     (or lower)                                           Productivity                                                                              Readily roots where                                                                           Does not layer                                                  branches touch naturally (replicates                                           ground few seed pods                                                                          from stools (no                                                                seed pods observed)                                  Stems:                                                                         Color (young)                                                                             High anthocyanin                                                                              Yellow Green                                         Color (mature)                                                                            Purple Red (59 A)                                                                             Light brown                                          Rigidity   Flexible lamellate                                                                            Sparsely lamellate                                              between nodes  between nodes - Rigid                                Leaves:                                                                        Type       Simple         Simple                                               Color:                                                                         (young)    Dark Green     Medium green                                         (mature)   Dark Green     Medium green                                         (fall)     Anthocyanin (maroon)                                                                          Faded green to yellow                                           expressed in full sun                                               Shape      Lanceolate (few lobed                                                                         Elliptical                                                      leaves on vegetative                                                           shoots)                                                             tip        Accuminate     Acute on flower                                                                shoots accuminate on                                                           vegetative shoots                                    base       Attenuate                                                           margins    Serrate        serrate on upper 1/3                                                           near tip                                             Size:                                                                          length     2"-21/2" on flowering                                                                         2"-3"  (with petiole)                                           wood; to 23/4" on                                                              vegatative wood                                                     width      0.3"-0.4" on flowering                                                                        1/2"                                                            wood; to 1" on                                                                 vegetative wood                                                     Venation   Pinnate        Pinnate                                              Flower:                                                                        Date of    Intermediate   Early                                                Flowering                                                                      Size: width                                                                               11/4"-11/2"    1/2"-3/4" at 45° angle                        Color:     Yellow (7A)    Bright Yellow (7 B)                                  Corolla:                                                                       length                    1/2" open to 45° angle                        lobes      Narrow         not reflexed during                                                            prime                                                Petals: number                                                                            4 - sometimes 5                                                                               4; occasionally 5 or 6                               Pistils:   Extend 2/25"-3/25"                                                                            short: anthers slightly                                         above pollen sacs of                                                                          below stigma portion                                            stamens        of pistil                                            Number per node:                                                                          2              2; often 4 per node                                  Insertion angle           buds & flowers                                       on upright stems:         pendulous                                            Internodes:                                                                               1"-11/2" (11/2" even on                                                                       1/2"-11/2"                                                      fast growing shoots)                                                Stress Resistance:                                                                        disease and insect                                                                            Disease and insect                                   Utility Aspects:          Can force flowering                                                            suitable for container                                                         culture                                              ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                                  S/N: 271,666 S/N 271,919                                                       PYGMY RED    MINIKIN                                                  ______________________________________                                         Plant:                                                                         Habit      Low, loose graceful                                                                           Small stature, fine                                             arching to ground                                                                             textured; small leaves                                                         and small stems;                                                               densely foliated                                     Size, height                                                                              31/2'-41/2'    2'-21/2'                                             Size, width                                                                               5'-6'          3'-4'                                                Vigor      Good vigor     Good vigor but slow                                                            growth                                               Hardiness  Hardy Zone 6b  Zone 6b (or lower)                                              (or lower)                                                          Productivity                                                                              Readily roots where                                                                           Layers naturally                                                branches touch Abundant seed pods                                              ground few seed pods                                                Stems:                                                                         Color (young)                                                                             High anthocyanin                                                                              Light green                                          Color (mature)                                                                            Purple Red (59 A)                                                                             Brownish green                                       Rigidity   Flexible lamellate                                                                            Ascending strongly                                              between nodes  lamellate between                                                              nodes                                                Leaves:                                                                        Type       Simple         Simple                                               Color:                                                                         (young)    Dark Green     Bright green to dark                                                           green                                                (mature)   Dark Green     Bright green to dark                                                           green                                                (fall)     Anthocyanin (maroon)                                                                          Fading green until                                              expressed in full sun                                                                         leaf drop                                            Shape      Lanceolate (few lobed                                                                         Linear                                                          leaves on vegetative                                                           shoots)                                                             tip        Accuminate     Accuminate                                           base       Attenuate      Attenuate                                            margins    Serrate        Lightly serrate                                      Size:                                                                          length     2"-21/2 " on flowering                                                                        On vegetative shoots-                                           wood; to 23/4" on                                                                             11/2" attached to 1/2"                                          vegatative wood                                                                               long slender petiole;                                                          smaller on flowering                                                           shoots                                               width      0.3"-0.4" on flowering                                                                        On vegetative                                                   wood; to 1" on shoots - 1/4";                                                  vegetative wood                                                     Venation   Pinnate        Pinnate                                              Flower:                                                                        Date of    Intermediate   Intermediate                                         Flowering                                                                      Size: width                                                                               11/4"-11/2"    1/2"-3/4" (cup shaped)                                                         fully reflexed                                       Color:     Yellow (7A)    Yellow (9 A)                                         Corolla:                                                                       length                                                                         lobes      Narrow         strongly reflexed,                                                             very small                                           Petals: number                                                                            4 - sometimes 5                                                                               4:- short and recurved                               Pistils:   Extend 2/25"-3/25"                                                                            Short; 1/25" below                                              above pollen sacs of                                                                          pollen                                                          stamens        sacs of stamens                                      Number per node:                                                                          2              2-4                                                  Insertion angle                                                                on upright stems:                                                              Internodes:                                                                               1"-11/2" (11/2" even on                                                                       Short (Flowering                                                fast growing shoots)                                                                          shoots 1/4-3/4"                                                                Vegetative shoots                                                              up to 2")                                            Stress Resistance:                                                                        disease and insect                                                                            Doesn't require same                                                           degree of winter                                                               protection as most                                                             container grown                                                                plants of genre                                      Utility Aspects:          Blooming can be                                                                forced. Expecially                                                             suited for container                                                           culture.                                             ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                                  S/N: 271,666 S/N 272,063                                                       PYGMY RED    LEMON SCREEN                                             ______________________________________                                         Plant:                                                                         Habit      Low, loose graceful                                                                           Tall, open and                                                  arching to ground                                                                             graceful; Upright, fan                                                         shape; vigorous; open                                                          foliage                                              Size, height                                                                              31/2'-41/2'    Up to 10'                                            Size, width                                                                               5'-6'          Hardy Zone 6b                                                                  (or lower)                                           Vigor      Good vigor     Vigorous                                             Hardiness  Hardy Zone 6b                                                                  (or lower)                                                          Productivity                                                                              Readily roots where                                                                           Abundant Flowers/                                               branches touch highly sterile/pruned                                           ground few seed pods                                                                          wood branches                                                                  quickly                                              Stems:                                                                         Color (young)                                                                             High anthocyanin                                                    Color (mature)                                                                            Purple Red (59 A)                                                                             Yellow                                               Rigidity   Flexible lamellate                                                                            Slightly lamellate                                              between nodes  between nodes                                        Leaves:                                                                        Type       Simple         Simple                                               Color:                                                                         (young)    Dark Green     Yellow green 151 B                                                             or Chartreuse (appear                                                          after flowering)                                     (mature)   Dark Green     Normal green                                                                   (Yellow-Green 144)                                                             whitish blotches                                     (fall)     Anthocyanin (maroon)                                                                          Greyed Purple 187 B                                             expressed in full sun                                               Shape      Lanceolate (few lobed                                                          leaves on vegetative                                                           shoots)                                                             tip        Accuminate     Accuminate                                           base       Attenuate      Attenuate                                            margins    Serrate        Serrate                                              Size:                                                                          length     2"-21/2" on flowering                                                                         Not distinguishing                                              wood; to 23/4" on                                                              vegatative wood                                                     width      0.3"-0.4" on flowering                                                                        Not distinguishing                                              wood; to 1" on                                                                 vegetative wood                                                     Venation   Pinnate        Pinnate                                              Flower:                                                                        Date of    Intermediate   Early                                                Flowering                                                                      Size: width                                                                               11/4"-11/2"    11/2"-13/4"                                          Color:     Yellow (7A)    Yellow (6 C)                                         Corolla:                                                                       length                                                                         lobes      Narrow         Somewhat reflexed                                    Petals: number                                                                            4 - sometimes 5                                                                               4, sometimes fasciated                               Pistils:   Extend 2/25"-3/25"                                                                            aborted stamens &/or                                            above pollen sacs of                                                                          pistils                                                         stamens                                                             Number per node:                                                                          2              4 to 8                                               Insertion angle                                                                on upright stems:                                                              Internodes:                                                                               1"-11/2" (11/2" even on                                                                       1" to 2" long on                                                fast growing shoots)                                                                          flowering wood                                       Stress Resistance:                                                                        disease and insect                                                                            Summer foliage                                                                 disease & insect                                                               resistant                                            Utility Aspects:          Summer pruning leads                                                           to shoot with                                                                  chartreuse leaves                                                              (young)                                              ______________________________________                                     

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Forsythia named `Pygmy-Red`, substantially as shown and described herein. 